The NICL assistant cut off comes as a group of figures rather than a single mark: a sectional minimum in each prelims test, an overall prelims score for your state and category, and finally the mains line that settles who is provisionally selected for that state's vacancies. National Insurance Company Limited recruits Class III assistants state by state, so a candidate in West Bengal and a candidate in Meghalaya could see lines over 30 marks apart within one recruitment round.
Below you will find how each stage is filtered, the nicl assistant previous year cut off figures reported from the last completed cycle, why some states run so much higher than others, and the steps for finding National Insurance's own PDF. The paper structure and topics are covered in our NICL assistant syllabus guide.
Exam at a glance
Recruiter
National Insurance Company Limited, KolkataPost
Assistant (Class III), recruited state wisePrelims
100 marks: English 30, reasoning 35, numerical ability 35Mains
200 marks in five testsNegative marking
0.25 of the marks for each wrong answerCut offs set for
Each section, each state and each categoryWhere published
Recruitment page of nationalinsurance.nic.co.in
How the NICL assistant cut off works at each stage
- Prelims sectional minimum. You must cross a set mark in English, reasoning and numerical ability separately. Fall short in one test and a strong total will not save you.
- Prelims overall cut off. From the pool that passes all three tests, candidates are shortlisted for mains in each state and category, in numbers linked to the vacancies. Whoever takes the final shortlist spot sets the nicl assistant prelims cut off for that state.
- Mains cut off. Mains marks alone rank you. A minimum aggregate applies, and then the last candidate inside each state's seat count sets the final line.
- Regional language test. Qualifying only. It has no marks and so no cut off, but failing it cancels your provisional selection.
Prelims marks are not carried forward, so a strong prelims score gives you nothing extra once you reach mains.
Previous year NICL assistant prelims cut off by section
The last completed cycle advertised 500 assistant posts, with the prelims held on 30 November 2024 and results released on 17 December 2024. The sectional minimums below were reported from that cycle's official cut off notice.
| Category | English (30) | Reasoning (35) | Numerical ability (35) |
|---|---|---|---|
| UR and EWS | 14.25 | 12.25 | 11.50 |
| Reserved groups (SC, ST, OBC, PwBD, ex-servicemen) | 11 | 7.25 | 7.5 |
Measured against its length, English asks for the most, close to half the marks for the unreserved list. If English is your weak area, plan to fix that before anything else.
State wise prelims cut off, 2024 cycle
The overall prelims line varied widely by state. A few figures reported for the unreserved category show the spread:
| State or UT | UR cut off |
|---|---|
| West Bengal | 87.25 |
| Delhi | 84.75 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 83.5 |
| Karnataka | 73.25 |
| Telangana | 73.25 |
| Meghalaya | 56 |
Large states with many applicants and comparatively few posts tend to close in the eighties. Smaller states, especially in the north east, often close far lower because fewer candidates choose them and the language test filters applicants who cannot read and write the state language.
NICL assistant mains cut off and the minimum aggregate
For the same cycle, the reported minimum aggregate in mains, out of 200, was:
| Category | Minimum marks out of 200 |
|---|---|
| UR and EWS | 110 |
| Ex-servicemen and disabled ex-servicemen | 100 |
| SC, ST, OBC and PwBD | 90 |
Above that floor, each state's final line depends on its seat count. Reported examples include an unreserved nicl assistant mains cut off of 121.5 in Delhi, with 111.5 for SC there, and 122 for UR in Kerala. Those figures sit only about 10 to 12 marks above the minimum, which tells you that the mains field thins out a lot after prelims.
Why your state choice changes everything
You can apply for only one state, and you must know its official language for the regional language test. That one choice fixes both your competition and your vacancies. When you compare states, look at three things in the notification: posts per category in that state, how many people usually apply there, and whether you can genuinely pass its language test. A lower cut off is of no use if the language test rules you out after mains.
What will move the next NICL assistant cut off
- Vacancies in your state. Even a small rise in posts can lower a state's line by several marks.
- Difficulty of each shift. Bank style papers with several shifts produce uneven scores; how scores across shifts are made comparable is explained in the notification.
- Applicants per post. Popular cycles with many fresh graduates push prelims lines up first.
- Overlap with other insurer exams. When other public sector insurers recruit around the same time, candidates split their effort, which can ease the line slightly.
The newest cycle again advertised 500 posts; its prelims was held on 27 August and the shortlisted roll numbers followed on 8 October. Check the NICL recruitment page for that cycle's cut off notice before comparing it with the figures above.
Reading the cut off notice yourself
- Open the careers or recruitment section of the National Insurance website, nationalinsurance.nic.co.in.
- Find the notice for the assistant recruitment you sat, and download the cut off PDF published with the prelims or mains result.
- Locate your state row and your category column, and check the sectional table as well as the overall one.
For a sense of how other insurers and banks set their lines, look at our LIC AAO cut off breakdown, or browse the bank exams hub.
Frequently asked questions
Does NICL assistant prelims have sectional minimums?
Yes. Each of the three prelims tests has its own floor, which you need to clear as well as the overall state cut off. In the 2024 cycle the reported unreserved minimums were English 14.25, reasoning 12.25 and numerical ability 11.50.
What was the nicl assistant pre cut off in the previous cycle?
It depended on the state. Reported unreserved figures ranged from 87.25 in West Bengal down to 56 in Meghalaya, with many large states in the seventies and eighties.
Will my Phase I score help in the end?
No. Phase I is used just to shortlist people for Phase II. Your mains score decides selection, and the regional language test is qualifying.
What is the minimum mains score needed?
For the 2024 cycle the reported floor stood at 110 of 200 marks for UR and EWS, 100 for ex-servicemen, and 90 for the SC, ST, OBC and PwBD lists. Each state's actual line was higher, depending on its vacancies.
Does NICL assistant have negative marking?
Yes. Prelims and mains both deduct one quarter of a question's marks when you answer it wrongly. Leaving an item blank costs nothing.
Can I choose a state with a low cut off?
You can apply for any one state, but you must pass the test in its official language after mains. Pick a state only if you are comfortable using its language on paper and in conversation.